Reviewers say devoted BlackBerry owners will be pleased with the BlackBerry
Curve 9330 -- a trusty update to a timeless classic. Though similar to its
predecessors, the newest Curve boasts one key feature past models lack. It
will eventually receive an update to the new BlackBerry 6 operating system
-- once Verizon OKs it -- which promises easier access to messaging features,
a new home screen and an improved web browser. Despite the impending upgrade,
most reviewers aren't overly excited about the Curve. As Shaun Mahal of BrightHand.com
notes, it's the "smartphone equivalent of the Toyota Camry -- reliable,
durable, cheap, but decidedly boring." The Curve 9330 is also available
for Sprint; our review of Sprint's BlackBerry Curve 9330(*Est. $80 with new contract)
outlines the differences between the two smartphones.

While it may not have all the bells and whistles of phones like the BlackBerry
Tour 9630 (Free with new contract), the Curve 9330 is still a "decent
smartphone for the price" says Nicole Lee of CNET. Its "slim profile" and "responsive
optical touch pad" make it an excellent choice for the corporate user
on the go. Reviewers say it also carries on the BlackBerry tradition of being
a top messaging phone. The Curve 9330 supports consumer and enterprise messaging
and comes with a plethora of features, such as GoogleTalk, Yahoo Messenger
and AIM. Users can take advantage of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections along
with 3G browsing speeds. For those who need less messaging and more talk
time, Mahal says the Curve "excels in call quality," and Lee describes
it as "very good on the whole."

Curve is fine for work, not so great for play

Although the Curve 9330 excels at the basics, it offers little else. Its
2-megapixel camera is "mediocre" according to Lee, and Mahal finds
it "underwhelms in every way." Another strike against the
Curve is the app selection, which is "still behind the competition" according
to Sascha Segan of PCMag.com. The Curve 9330 features both "useful" Verizon
applications and "bloatware," Mahal says. He notes the only "worthwhile
apps" available are Visual Voicemail -- for a fee -- and Bing Mobile.
The Curve also features V Cast Music with Rhapsody, V Cast Video and the
VZW Tones ringtone store.

Although the phone offers entry-level users a reliable product at a low
price, reviewers say, power users will be happier with higher-end BlackBerry
models. Those who do feel the Curve 9330 fits their needs, however, won't
get left behind as BlackBerry phones move to the new OS 6.

The Curve 3G 9330 ranks highly among our sources as an entry-level smart
phone but falls short in other areas, such as features. CNET tests battery
life, call quality, and responsiveness and gives the phone good reviews on
most features except the 2-megapixel camera. PCMag.com's Segan says the BlackBerry
line is "still behind the competition" in terms of app selection
but does hope the new operating system brings better performance. BrightHand.com
also gives a thorough review of the Curve 3G, covering both the Verizon and
Sprint models.

Calling the Curve 3G 9330 an "affordable" entry-level smart phone, Nicole Lee of CNET reviews its features and what the upcoming new BlackBerry operating system will mean for the Curve. She conducts battery life and call quality tests and checks out the many multimedia features on the phone.

Shaun Mahal calls the BlackBerry Curve the "quintessential BlackBerry," and takes a close look at the updates to the Curve 9330. He approves of the addition of Wi-Fi, but says the phone is "sluggish at times" and "makes little use of 3G capabilities."

Sascha Segan says the Curve 9330 is nearly identical to the 8530 model, except for upcoming addition of the BlackBerry operating system 6. Since it carries the potential for better features, BlackBerry customers should opt for the new model to prepare for future upgrades.

These listings are administered, sorted and maintained by Google. For
information about these Google ads, go to adwords.google.com.

Google may place or recognize a unique "cookie" on your Web browser.
Information from this cookie may be used by Google to help provide
advertisers with more targeted advertising opportunities. For more
information about Google's privacy policy, including how to opt out, go
to www.google.com/ads/preferences.

By clicking on Sponsored Links you will leave ConsumerSearch.com. The web site you will go to is not endorsed by ConsumerSearch.